Book One in the 'Loving' series.
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Arjun Singhania is a driven and successful 27-year-old man who believes he has everything he needs in life: a supportive family, a loyal best friend, and a thriving company.
However, his world is turned u...
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🎶in labon pe jo hansi hai inki tu hi hai wajah bin tere me kuch nahi hun mera hona bewajah dhoop teri na pade to dhundhla sa main lagun aake saanse de mujhe tu taaki zinda me rahun... 🎶
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"How is it going, son?" Dev Singhania sat down at the head of the dining table.
"It is good, dad." Arjun forced a smile.
Mrs Shalini Singhania had forced her son to come home today as they'd not met in almost a month. Arjun was way too busy sulking over his lost love.
Love. He didn't know if he loved her or not. He didn't think if he even knew what love was. Before he met Mayera, he thought he knew all about love, because obviously he'd fallen in love before. But Mayera had made him feel things that the girl in his past never made him feel.
So he wasn't sure anymore if he knew love, but what he did know that he hadn't been at peace since the moment Mayera walked out of his office door.
"You know you can share anything with us, right?" Shalini grabbed Arjun's hand and pressed it in a comforting manner.
"Of course, maa," He entwined their fingers and lifted it up to kiss the back of her hand.
Arjun hadn't told his parents anything about Mayera, but his parents were no fool. She left Delhi suddenly and their son's sulken face was enough to tell Dev and Shalini that something was terribly, terribly wrong in his life.
The Singhania couple had never interfered in their children's life. Both Arjun and his younger sister, Alina were given the freedom to make their own choices. But sometimes even the smartest of the people need a little push in the right direction to reach their destination.
And Dev was going to give that push to Arjun.
"Beta, next week free ho?" He asked Arjun as they sat for a cup of green tea after dinner.
"Ji, kahiye. Kuch kaam tha?"
"Mumbai chaloge?"
Arjun was confused. "Achanak Mumbai kyu?"
"Tejas Oberoi is giving over his empire to his two children. So there is a huge party. Both his son and daughter are going to be formally introduced to the world for the first time, and we've been invited to the event."
"What would I do there? You both should go." He said looking at both his parents.
"Beta, come with us. Alina is also in Mumbai for her studies. And it's been so long since all four of us have spent some time together. We'll attend the party and as well as have some family bonding time." Shalini played her emotional blackmail card.
Arjun was in absolutely no mood to go, but he loved his mother a lot and she seldom demanded anything from him. And it has also been quite long since he'd seen his baby sister.
So he agreed. The party was on Saturday, so they decided to fly down on Friday.
After Arjun left for his home, Shalini hugged Dev and asked, "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"Yes, sweetheart. It's high time he knew who Mayera actually is."
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Kabir and Mayera were all set to take over their father's business. Kabir had more experience, as was two years older to her and had worked in the company for almost three years. Mayera, however, had only been going to the company for three months.
She knew many employees, who knew that she was being given the co-CEO position along with her brother, were not convinced. Her being a girl didn't add to her advantage either. This is one of the reasons why she wanted to earn respect in the business without her surname, but she came back home much earlier than she thought she would.
Her father, although, had as much faith in Mayera as he had in Kabir. Kabir was a quick learner and Dev had crafted him into a businessman over the past few years, but Mayera on the other hand didn't need to learn much. She had business in her blood, just like her father.
A day before the event and press release, she went to her mother and laid her head on her lap.
"What's wrong, bacha?" Nandita ran her fingers through her daughter's hair.
"Will I be able to be as good as Papa? He trusts me so much! What if I am not good enough?"
"Mayeru, never and I repeat, never doubt your capabilities. You've always underestimated yourself, but now you've to let go of that habit. You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"Really?" She was unsure.
Nandita smiled at her. "You gave up your comfortable life here and shifted to a new city to live independently. What more proof do you need?"
Mayera smiled. Her mother always knew what would make her feel better.
Then Nandita changed the topic and started showing her pictures of Kiara and Namit's engagement. Kiara's parents flew down to London as they wanted to have a formal engagement.
Mayera wanted to go too but she couldn't leave her work. Mayera could see how happy the couple looked and prayed that God always kept them the same way.
"I wish you would find your prince the way Kiara found hers." Nandita kissed her daughter's forehead.
Mayera shook her head with a smile. Indian mothers won't ever change.
Mayera very smoothly ignored a particular frizzy feeling that uproared in her heart and a face came in front of her closed eyes when her mother said prince.
Ugh, she hated when almost everything reminded her of him. When his face randomly popped into her head. How she prayed to never see him again.
We'll see about that, little one! Giggled the stars as the night slowly started to turn into morning.
A morning that was going to mark the beginning of a new phase of Mayera and Arjun's life.
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I love how supportive Mayera's parents are!
Mayera's mother, Nandita is a character that is inspired by an amazing woman that I have in my life. She is like my second mother and has played a great role in shaping my life.
